Lidocaine, the first amide-type local anesthetic, was developed by Nils Lofgren in 1943 and first marketed in 1948. The proper chemical name is 2-(diethylamino)-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)acetamide monohydrochloride and the chemical formula is C14H22N2O·HCl·H2O.
Lidocaine is metabolized in the liver and excreted by the kidneys. It is faster acting and longer lasting than procaine (novocaine).